Richland beacon., 1887-12-31
THE STORT or amer IYRE,S.

We ace how wre.chcd are the parts
Played by miSlca1ers Of the State,
And feel within oar cr.oing hearts
Tho st-p Of an a'lyIn 'inS Fate.
Yes. Emglands sun may set, alas
Ma SGT in gloom, nor rise again:
H.r proud name Ike shadow pas
Out IF In" thpu ,l,, an voris Of mcn.
Still tfcrr is much not born tl die;
Great deed, can never b. unlan",
Their ,llcnlor yet must fiji orr sky
Like stars. outla>tiu., ,yta the sun;
Ten thousanl wears may come AMI 81.
But no, 10 move them ir'.a their place;
Through them new Lands viii learn and know
Why God once siaI,i the English race.
Our Chi drcn'l chillrcl shall repeat
How, with half unron>'.ol, thrill,
The noble pul,,c Of duty hr,,
In simple hearts, an / armcl ;hc viii,
We who yc, love Il ar Eaglaul well,
Must rise AMI link oar hearts with IN lrs,
Pcrchancc still living un to til
OF thosc who ,,ird-likr Ali e Ayr"s.
Such deeds are Eu2lanis soul, and we,
ToS ing aside ca "A idlcr rhyme,
Should pour forth song to krc? thcm FREQ
From the conc aliu,; dust uf time.
No TRICKS of style will this require;
Such stories olIpnll be pl,'alv told;
Gems never in9o their strength or fire,
Though tins"l settings may grow "'d.
The heavens are clear and calm, when lo,
A sudden V Ice rings through the night;
Men gather, huryin6 t. anl fr',
With quivcr.n% lips and f,c,S white;
A small mean house bursts forth in flame,
Within crash down the buninS stairs
And, like a picture in her frame,
Stands at the window Alice AyrcS.
''Come down, com doyl," all cry aloul,
/ "Wc have the mean, u break your fall
/ She does not seem to hear tbs rrowl,
/ And gives no answer to their call.
Then firm, that evil hpur to IN It,
She forces through the narrow pane,
Soft clothes and bel ling on th, street,
Rctircs, AMI straight returns again.
! A sleeping babe is in hCr ar;aG,
Whom, with a watchful lIaul and head,
Protecting from all risks AMI harms,
She drops in safety On tn bl.
Slowly she step; blc'l, in tiil. gloom
or strauging smoke 10 disIpp ar,
Thence dragging from her instant doom
An older girl, who shrirks with fear.
"Comc down, conc down, the STOUT ria3 h;S'
"Comc down, or every hope Is gone;
Save, save yourself" at length they cry,
Enough for othcrs have yog done"
But no. there is third onc yet,
Death therefor must b. fac-l one more
The star Of duty will not set
For her till tn whole work i o'c..
AL ended now-sh" might hayc time
Upon herself look to cast
But filed with that one thought sublime
Gcd wills that it should b. her last
With feet astray and rcclinS brain,
Choked breath, dullcl ears, and darhcncl eye
She staggcrs onward, but i'll vain;
1t is too late she falls and dies.
anu WHO wis AiiCc EA.ltS' l'H '1N
A household dru lce, who shaved all day,
Whose joylcss years were one long task,
On stinted food and scanty pay;
But neither hunger toll nor care
Could c'er self III thought ins'ill,
Or duench spirit born To dare,
Or freeze that English hear; AMI will.
Ao ua arn vclI t,ll II * trup
That Englands worth may thence be show
That men and women. not few,
Like Alice, should be better known.
Enrich" some say, this golden year
CThat no such legend W. may losc)
BY building up their statues hcr,."
SO be it! if the people choosc.
But, cold and dead in all m,E's i .;h:,
A statue mou,lcrs and decays,
While soullcss hirlngs often blight
Grand hero names with formal praise.
No, Alice and her rarircrs cal
For that which ch sells cannot give;
Self-srulpturcd on tn minds Of all,
Such memories should not waste, hut live.
Not cabnod in one narrow place,
A local boast, q mere street token;
But. like the air, difrliscd through space,
: So long as English woris arc spoken;
To be drawn in with each new breath
Where rel and warm the old h ooi runs,
And DER Tho wide world conqucring death,
Shared thus rcycr by cur SoEs.
Il III. DoYLr